Electric range



W. J. CARTER ELECTRIC RANGE March 9, 1948.

Filed Jan. 7, v 1946 ma ma MAL/AM J. 6 2mm Patented Mar. 9,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC RANGE William Jacob Carter, Seattle, Wash.

Application January 7, 1946, Serial No. 639,521

, 1 Claim. 1 This inventionv relates to improvements in ranges and it has reference more particularly to a light weight, pOrtabIa-eIectric-range of a type especially adapted to the needs of persons who are required to prepare light lunches, or meals, in rooms that are not equipped with the ordinary cooking facilities; Furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of an electrically heated'range equipped with an extension cord that maybe plugged into the usual wall socket in the manner of connecting'the ordinary electric toaster or waifle iron and which may be used in various ways for the cooking and preparing of food, for boiling water, for-heating purposes and for clothes drying.-

It is also an object of this invention to provide an electric range of the character and for the purposes above stated that cannot easily be tipped over; that is relatively inexpensive in its manufacture; that consumes a small amount of current when in use; that is safe in its various uses; that is particularly designed for the uses of blind people and invalids; and in which the heating element is so located that it cannot become dangerous either to user or articles adjacent the device.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts of the device, in their combination and mode of use, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preierred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a range embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, particularly illustrating the relationship of the heating element to the open, upper end of the housing, and the provision for air circulation in the range.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the range.

Fig. 4 is an illustration showing the use of the range in an inverted position; a part 01 the housing being broken away for better understanding the use of the range.

Referring more in detail to the drawings,

l designates, in its entirety, a range embodied by the present invention. In its present preferred form of construction, the range is formed from sheet aluminum, or other suitable metal, and it comprises a housing 2 of tubular form, vertically disposed and slightly tapered toward its upper end. In a practical design of range for ordinary uses, the housing {would be made approximately eight inches in diameter at the upper or sm'aller' end, which is left open, and ten inches in diameter at its larger 'or lower end; the latter being closed by a wall 3 that is fixed therein as shown. Tl-ie height of the housing would beapproximately; from twelve to fourteen inches, but it is'to be understood that the dimensions of the housing as above given might be varied as required'or as desired for any particular use of the device.

Located concentrically within the upper, open end portion of the housing, and set down approxi-' mately three inches belowthe open end, is a hori zontally disposed electric heating elementf5, which may be of any suitable type of construction. This element is fixedly supported in place by a plurality of metal bars or brackets 6, that are attached thereto and to the side walls of the housing. As noted best in Figs. 2 and 3, the heating element is of lesser diameter than the housing and thus an open space is provided between it and the housing wall for the circulation of heat and air thereabout.

Formed in a lower side wall portion of the housing, is an opening 8, over which an outwardly opening door 9 is mounted. The door is hinged at one edge, as at ID, to the housing and is equipped at its other edge with a pivoted latch lever H, arranged to be engaged with a latch plate l2 that is fixed to the housing adjacent the opening, to hold the door closed.

Electric current may be brought to the heating element through any suitable type of electrical connection. As shown herein, the element has protected electrical extension cord indicated at 14, leading through an insulating thimble IS in a side wall of the housing. The cord is equipped at its outer end with a connector l6 adapted to be plugged into the usual wall socket. Interposed in the extension cord is a toggle switch l8, or switch of other suitable kind for control of flow of current to the element.

In the use of a range of this character, the upwardly tapered housing may be set in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 2, and a kettle or other form of cooking utensil may be set down within the open end thereof directly upon the heating element. By this arrangement of the heating element below the open end of the housing, and the provision for placing oi the cooking utensil or kettle thereon, as shown, it is impossible to upset the vessel in which food is being cooked. Therefore, this device is especially practical for use by blind people and by invalids for its intended uses. If it is not desired to set the cooking uten- In this use, it is most practical to place the lower end on a pie pan, or the like, as indicated by numeral 20. For the toasting of bread, the bread slice would be placed in the pie pan and the range then inverted over the slice of bread, as has beenillustrated. It is also possible, when the range is assas're f F j 4 shown in the drawing. It is to be understood also that the housing might be made square,

cylindrical or of other convenient and practical shapes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A range of the character described comprising an invertible, tubular housing adapted for upright support on either end, said housing bein open at one end and having'a'wall closin its other end, a heating element supported coaxially in the housing within the open end thereof and spaced inwardly from the end with clearance thereabout for air circulation and adapted to serve as a support for a cooking utensil when the utensil isset down-within the open end; said used in this manner, to place food within the I warming oven. Also, in this manner of its use, the device may serve efiectively for the drying of clothes placed thereover or held by suitable means adjacent the upper end of the housing.

It is desirable that ranges of this character be made as light in' weight as possible and therefore I prefer in its construction to use sheet aluminum for the making of certain parts, particularly the housing. An oven of the dimensions previously given and made of aluminum, weighs very little and can be easily moved about. When not in use it may be conveniently stored out of the way.

It is to'be understood that the dimensions previously given are for a range of a type which, at present. appears to he most practical. However, I'dQ'llOii wish to be limited in any way to the stated dimensions or to specific relationships housing providing a warming oven between the element and its closed end and having a side wall opening into said oven, and a door for closing said opening, v

1 WILLIAM JACOB CARTER. I

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS French Mar. 25,, 1947 

